Our mission is to support clinical care for families affected by Huntington’s disease.

History

In 1991, shortly after being diagnosed with Huntington’s disease, Joe formed his foundation aimed at creating an HD clinic at the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. At the time, desperate HD families sought medical care to navigate their long, complex journey with HD, hence the need for a specialized clinic staffed with HD medical experts.

Beginning in 1997, Founding Director, Dr. Vicki Wheelock, neurologist and movement disorder specialist, began then enthusiastically expanded her clinic services by hiring Terry Tempkin, RN, ANP in 1998. Their clinic rapidly grew to caring for over 650 patients. In 2001, Dr. Wheelock was awarded the coveted distinction as an HDSA Center of Excellence, the first COE site in N. California. Dr. Vicki Wheelock, as an active member of the Huntington Study Group (HSG), provided patients the opportunity to participate in studies and trials, theirs was the first HSG site in N. California. In addition to caring for adults with HD, Dr. Wheelock's team cares for children with Juvenile HD, the first JHD clinic in N. California.

There have been so many firsts!

The UC Davis HD Center of Excellence Clinic continues to be one of the largest HD clinics in the US.

Besides neurologists Dr. Vicki Wheelock and Dr. Sasha Duffy, their
team of experts include a nurse practitioner, psychiatrist, genetic counselor, social
worker, physical therapist and study coordinator. Their dynamic team-approach provides
the best care possible for people affected with Huntington’s disease.

Today, 28 years later, the JPRF's mission continues through an annual grant, which helps fund the HD nurse practitioner whose sole focus is on caring for HD patients through clinical care and research. We thank Joe Roberson for his vision; he lived to see the UC Davis HD Clinic succeed and to admire Dr. Vicki Wheelock's compassion and commitment providing care and hope to people with HD.

Your tax-deductible gift ensures that this dynamic clinic, full of 'firsts', and full of innovative care strategies continues helping families with HD.

The JPRF has no staff or office; we're all volunteers, so 100% of your donation will reach the UC Davis HD clinic.